Replaceable inserts for shoes and the like



Z. RADOS TS FOR SHOES AND THE LIK REPLACEABLE INSER Filed March 19, 1959INVENTOR.

ZOLTAN RADOS clef; ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,954,618Patented Dot. 4, 1960 REPLA'CEABLE INSERTS FOR SHOES AND THE LIKE ZoltanRados, Bronx, N.Y. (2545 Beverly Ave, Santa Monica, Calif.), assignor offifteen percent to Ben Sunray, Flushing, NY.

Filed Mar. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 800,512

1 Claim. (CI. 36-25) This invention concerns novel heel and toeconstructions for shoes and the like.

Theinvention has as a principal object provision of a replaceable heelor toe insert for a shoe. The shoe heel or toe insert is formed ofresilient rubber material and is adapted for easy application to a heelor toe portion of the sole of a shoe, the attached heel or toe insertbeing held in place by friction and the resiliency thereof.

A further object is the provision of a removable resilient shoe heel ortoe insert which is so constructed and formed that it will have aninterfitting and interlocking relation with the heel or toe portion ofthe sole of the shoe with which it is associated.

A still further object is the provision of a replaceable heel or toeinsert which is easily mounted in position and which when once mountedwill be firmly secured in place, until the replaceable heel or toeinsert is worn, when it becomes easily removable from the shoe to whichit has shoe and fitting into a recess in the replaceable heel or toeinsert.

The invention provides a means whereby the user can replace his own wornshoe heel and toe structures with new ones without requiring anyparticular skill and tools, and at very low cost.

. For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoe heel structure embodying one formof the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a shoe heel structure embodying anothermodified form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a shoe showing the heelstructure of Fig. 2 fixed thereon and another replaceable heel structurepartly mounted on the fixed heel.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another modified form of heel liftadapted for use on a ladys shoe.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fixed heel mounting structure adaptedto accommodate the heel lift of Fig. 4 on a heel of a ladys shoe.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a fixed heel of a ladysshoe adapted to mount the heel lift of Fig. 4 thereon.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of a shoe sole showing modified fixed heeland toe insert mounting structures according to the invention.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a replaceable toe insert adapted to beused with the toe portion mounting structure of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a heel mounting structure 223*embodying one form of the invention. This structure 22 is adapted to bemounted on a heel; portion 23 of the sole 21 of a shoe, a portion ofwhich is shown in Fig. 3. The heel structure 22 has a U-shaped orhorseshoe-shaped body defining a U-shaped recess 24. The recess has afiat bottom and a side wall 26 which is undercut to define a dovetailedgroove 25. Holes 36 serve to receive nails or screws whereby thestructure is secured to the heel portion 223 of a shoe sole 21 as shownin Fig. 3. The U-shaped body 22 is adapted to accommodate removably areplaceable heel structure, such as the heel structure 28 shown in Fig.3. Heel 28 is formed of resilient rubber or plastic material and has theshape of the heelportion 23 of the sole 21. It has aliat bottom 29 and aU-shaped outer wall. Extending from the inner or upper side 30 of theheel is a U-shaped tenon 31* having a flaring dovetailed side walladapted to fit into the dovetailed groove 25 of the mounting structure22 of the shoe. A wedge-shaped detent 35 is mounted at the bight end ofthe structure 22', and projects upwardly therefrom. Accordingly, ashaped hole is formed in the facing side of the heel structure, toreceive the detent 35 Another modified form of heel mounting structure22 is shown in Fig. 9. This form of mounting structure is somewhatsimilar to the form of structure shown in Fig. 8 except that threespaced detents 33 are provided in place of a single detent 35 In Fig. 3,the modified form of heel mounting structure 22 is shown attached to theheel portion 23 of the sole 21 Heel structure 28 is shown being mountedon the structure 22 in Fig. 3. Structure 2? has a plurality of spacedpins or pegs 33 projecting upwardly therefrom. Corresponding spacedholes 34 are formed in the facing side 30 of heel structure 2%. Heelstructure 23 has a dovetailed tenon 31 of U-shape.

Figs. 4-6 illustrate heel mounting, arrangements especially adapted forladies shoes. Heel lift 50. has a dovetailed tenon 52 whose side wall 53is ridged rather than flat. This. ridged wall fits into a groove 54which has a V-shaped cross section and is formed in the U-shapedmounting structure 56 which has a recess 55 with flat bottom 57. Holes58 in the U-shaped rim permit nailing the structure to a heel 60 shownin dotted lines in Fig. 5. Detent pin 33 on structure 56 engages in arecess 62 in the heel lift 50 to retain the lift on the heel 60.

Fig. 6 shows the heel mounting structure 56 integrally formed with theheel 60 The U-shaped recess 55 is formed in the end of the heel and thisrecess is provided with a dovetailed groove 54 for retaining the tenon52 of heel lift 50. The recess has a flat bottom :57 which receives theside 63 of the tenon 52.

In Figs. 7-9 there is shown a sole 21 provided with a heel mountingstructure 22. This structure has a U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped bodydefining a U-shaped recess 24. The recess has a flat bottom and a sidewall which is undercut to define a dovetailed groove adapted toaccommodate removably a replaceable: heel structure, such as the heelstructure 28 shown in Fig. 3. In addition, the sole is provided with atoe mounting structure 72. This structure includes a generally U-shapedrecess 74 having an undercut dovetail grooved side wall 77. A detent pinor projection 75 extends from the bight end of recess 74. A toe insertfor mounting in the toe mounting structure is best shown in Figs. 8 and9. It is a resilient rubber member provided with a U-shaped dovetailedtenon 82 having an inclined side wall 84 which fits into the dovetailgrooved wall 77 of the mounting structure.

As best shown in Fig. 9, a hole or recess 83 is formed near the bightend of the toe insert to receive the pin 75. The base 78 of the toeinsert is thicker than the tenon 82. This base takes up wear on the toeportion of the shoe and when Worn away, the toe insert 80 can easily bepeeled olf of the toe mounting structure 72 for re placement with a newtoe insert 80. Thus, without use of tools or any special skill orfacilities, the user can re place his own shoe toes and heels when worn.If desired, the user can obtain several shoe toe inserts and replaceableheels from the dealer at the time he purchases his shoes, or he canpurchase the replaceable heels and toe inserts separately 'as needed.The mounting structures, if integrally formed with the heel portions ofthe soles as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, will be fabricated at the factorywhere the shoe is made. The mounting structures of Figs. 1-3, and may beapplied by a shoe repairman to any conventional shoe sole. Thereafter,the user can attach his own replaceable heels at will without requiringfurther use of the repairmans services in this regard. The old worn shoeheels are health hazards as they tend to twist and disfigure the normalcondition and growth of the angles of the wearer, therefore, thisinvention facilitates the interchanging of old shoe heels which may bereadily detached by lifting and removed when they become thinner andworn. The invention is applicable to the heels or toes of mens, ladiesand childrens shoes, as explained above.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that 'I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a heel mounting structure 22embodying one form of the invention. This structure 22 is adapted to bemounted on a heel portion 23 of the sole 21 of a shoe, a portion ofwhich is shown in Fig. 3. The heel structure 22 has a U-shaped orhorseshoe-shaped body defining a U-shaped recess 24. The recess has aflat bottom and a. side wall 26 which is undercut to define a dovetailedgroove 25. Holes 36 serve to receive nails or screws whereby thestructure is secured to the heel portion 23 of a shoe sole 21 as shownin Fig. 3. The U-shaped body 22 is adapted to accommodate removably areplaceable heel structure, such as the heel structure 28 shown in Fig.3. Heel 28 is formed of resilient rubber or plastic material and has theshape of the heel portion 23 of the sole 21". It has a flat bottom 29and a U-shaped outer wall. Ex-

tending from the inner or upper side 30 of the heel is a U-shaped tenon3:1 having a flaring dovetailed side wall adapted to fit into thedovetailed groove 25 of the mounting structure 22 of the shoe. Awedge-shaped detent 35 is mounted at the bight end of the structure 22and projects upwardly therefrom. Accordingly, a shaped hole is formed inthe facing side of the heel structure, to receive the detent 35*.

Another modified form of heel mounting structure 22 is shown in Fig. 9.This form of mounting structure is somewhat similar to the form ofstructure shown in Fig. 8 except that three spaced detents 33 areprovided in place of a single detent 35*.

In Fig. 3, the modified form of heel mounting structure 22 is shownattached to the heel portion 23 of the sole 21 Heel structure 28 isshown being mounted on the structure 22 in Fig. 3. Structure 22 has aplurality of spaced pins or pegs 33 projecting upwardly therefrom.Corresponding spaced holes 34 are formed in the facing side 30 of heelstructure 28 Heel structure 28 has a dovetailed tenon 31 of U-shape.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a shoe, an outer sole having a recess in the center of the toeportion thereof and opening outwardly of the toe portion, said recesshaving an outer wide rectangularshaped portion and an inner restrictedU-shaped portion with rounded end, said recess having an undercutdovetail peripheral wall, and a rubber insert similar in configurationto the recess in said recess, said insert having a beveled side wallinterlocking with the undercut peripheral wall of the recess, and adetent pin radiating from the base of the recess, said insert having arecess in its surface adapted to receive the pin for releasably holdingthe insert in position in the recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,156,769 Fortin Oct. 12, 1915 1,490,797 Borger Apr. 15, 1924 1,674,549Hobert June 19, 1928 1,966,293 Gillis July 10, 1934 2,125,158 GillisJuly 26, 1938 2,173,558 Lindblom Sept. 19, 1939 2,582,551 Malherbe Jan.15, 1952 2,806,302 Sharpe Sept. 17, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 809,891 GermanyAug. 2, 1951 823,964 France Oct. 25, 1937 927,373 Germany May 5, 19551,010,606 France Mar. 26, 1952 tari

